“On behalf of the United States Navy and all forces in Japan, please accept my deepest, most sincere and most heartfelt apologies,” Rear Adm. Dan Cloyd said during a meeting with Vice Gov. Kanetoshi Yoseda, giving Okinawa, where about half of all U.S. military personnel in Japan are stationed, an assurance of the military’s efforts to prevent a similar incident from happening.

Seaman Christopher Browning and Petty Officer 3rd Class Skyler Dozierwalker, both 23, of Fort Worth Naval Air Base, Texas, remained in Japanese custody Tuesday. The two reservists are suspected of attacking and raping a woman who was walking home from work in central Okinawa at about 4 a.m. Oct. 16.

Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima is in Washington this week to make Okinawa’s voice heard directly. On Tuesday, he separately visited Mark Lippert, assistant secretary of defense for Asia and Pacific security affairs, and Kurt Campbell, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, calling for their assistance in resolving various military-related issues on Okinawa.

“The incident took place on Okinawa, where the deployment of the Ospreys was forcefully carried out by ignoring deep concern and protest voice of people of Okinawa,” the resolution said. “The situation surrounding the military here is far beyond our endurance.”

Rear Adm. Dan Cloyd, Commander Naval Forces Japan, traveled to Okinawa on Oct. 23, 2012, to offer apologies to Vice Gov. Kanetoshi Yoseda for alleged sexual attacks of an Okinawa woman by two U.S. Navy sailors on the morning of October 16.